Congressional lawmakers Mike Lawler and Ritchie Torres, representing New York, have introduced the COLUMBIA Act in response to rising antisemitic protests at Columbia University. This proposed legislation would allow the U.S. Department of Education to appoint a third-party antisemitism monitor to colleges receiving federal funding. This monitor would be responsible for evaluating and reporting on the college’s progress in combating antisemitism, with potential consequences for universities that fail to comply, such as losing federal funding. Lawler and Torres hope to address the safety and well-being of Jewish students on college campuses, who have reported feeling unsafe and facing harassment due to their religious and ethnic identity.
The COLUMBIA Act aims to hold colleges and universities accountable for creating a safe environment for students of all backgrounds. Under the proposed law, the Secretary of Education would appoint the monitor and oversee their work, while the college selected for monitoring would be responsible for covering the expenses. The monitor would publish quarterly reports evaluating progress on combating antisemitism and offering recommendations for improvement to Congress and the Secretary of Education. Lawler and Torres emphasize the importance of taking action to address rising antisemitism on college campuses and protect the rights and safety of Jewish students.
The protests at Columbia University and other colleges against Israel’s response to Hamas attacks have sparked bipartisan backlash and accusations of antisemitism. Videos on social media show activists at Columbia cheering on the deaths of Israeli soldiers and expressing support for Hamas, leading to concerns about the safety of Jewish students on campus. Lawler and Torres are responding to this crisis by introducing legislation to address the hostile environment facing Jewish students and ensure that colleges take measures to combat antisemitism effectively. The COLUMBIA Act would provide a framework for monitoring and holding colleges accountable for creating a safe and inclusive campus environment.
Lawler and Torres stress the importance of addressing antisemitism on college campuses and ensuring that students of all backgrounds feel safe and welcome. The proposed legislation would empower the Department of Education to appoint a monitor to assess and report on colleges’ efforts to combat antisemitism, with potential consequences for institutions that fail to comply. By taking proactive steps to address the rising antisemitism on campuses, Lawler and Torres hope to create a safer environment for Jewish students and prevent incidents of harassment and discrimination based on religious and ethnic identity. The COLUMBIA Act represents a bipartisan effort to protect the rights and safety of all students on college campuses.
